The castle was built on an important trade route leading from Bohemia through the Vyšší Brod Pass to the rich upper Danube region. With the original German name Rosenberg, it was first mentioned in 1250 during the reign of King Wenceslas I. 

During the lifetime of the probable founder of the castle, Vok von Rosenberg, and his closest descendants, the castle was the dwelling of the ruler and the center of the estate. Despite its advantageous strategic location, the castle was conquered several times. In 1551, the family estates were ceded to the sixteen-year-old Wilhelm von Rosenberg. The beginnings of intensive construction activity at Rosenberg fall into this period. This period is also one of the most famous in Rosenberg history. After his death in 1592, Petr Vok took over the estate, during whose reign some of the interiors of the castle were modified under the influence of the Italian Renaissance. In 1601, Petr Wok ceded the Rosenberg estate to Jan Zrinsky, who lived here until his death in 1612. The new owner had generous modifications made to the interiors in the spirit of Mannerism. The Gothic castle became a comfortable Renaissance residence. The turbulent events at the beginning of the 30th Years’ War caused that Rožmberk Castle found itself in the hands of the imperial general Karel Bonaventure Buquoy in 1620. The castle was in the possession of the aristocratic Buquoy family until 1945. Jiří Jan Jindřich Buquoy (1814 – 1883) was a passionate collector of art and historical objects. In the spirit of the romantic feeling of the 19th century, he implemented a grand plan and rebuilt the Rosenberg into a family museum. Extensive building modifications were carried out in the style of romanticizing Gothic and the appearance of the castle changed radically. The castle, which thus received its final form, was opened to the public.

We invite all lovers of fairy tales, ghosts and fairy-tale creatures to an exhibition in the Fairytale Cottage in Mlázovy near Kolince.

You will see the fairy Šumava, Šumavous, fairy-tale musicians, elf sawmill and many others.

Pernštejn Castle – the family seat of the Lords of Pernštejn. They founded it – then still as lords of Medlov, a South Moravian town near Brno – sometime between 1270 and 1285. The name of the castle originated from the Czechization of the German Bärenstein (i.e. Bear Stone), probably according to the character of the surrounding region – an intact land of deep forests, bears, wolves and charcoal burners. This is also evidenced by the surrounding names, such as Nedvědice. On the other hand, the legend of the mythical ancestor of the family, the charcoal burner Věňava, who defeated a bison and then brought its severed head to the king, who as a reward for his bravery gave him the landscape on the upper Svratka and the Pernštejn coat of arms with a black bison head, must be considered to be a mere legend serving to embellish the history of Pernštejn. The only thing that can be considered true about this legend is that the first historically documented member of the family, Štěpán of Medlov, explicitly mentioned in the years 1222 – 1223 as a burgrave at the castle of Děvičky, earned the estates in the service of the landowners. And because the Pernštejns gradually became the most important family in the country, richer than the South Bohemian Rosenbergs, their family residence was also one of the most important and most impressive. However, not always: in the 14th century, the family grew into several branches, which was manifested on the one hand in the establishment of new castles (Aueršperk, Pyšolec, Zubštejn) and construction activity in Pernštejn itself, but above all in economic decline and the gradual sale of property. Paradoxically, the decline was stopped by the thinning of the family members, which was followed by the re-expansion of the Pernštejn estates. The reputation of the family increased especially at the beginning of the 15th century under Wilhelm I of Pernštejn (about 1360 – 1426), who worked in the highest offices – he also held the position of Moravian provincial governor. Paradoxically, however, this influential feudal lord did not shy away from expanding his wealth by robberies, which were carried out by companies of various adventurers from Pernštejn. During the Hussite wars, Wilhelm and his sons Bavor and Jan stood on the Hussite side, and therefore the Bishop of Olomouc, Jan Železný, tried to conquer Pernštejn – without success. Vilém’s son Jan (1406 – 1475) successfully continued to multiply the family property and also carried out an extensive reconstruction of the castle, including its repair after a fire in 1460. Until the middle of the 16th century – during the era of Vratislav I, Wilhelm II and Jan II of Pernštejn, called Bohatý (1487 – 1548) – the castle was built briskly, both in terms of expanding the living spaces and improving the castle fortifications. From the forties of the 16th century, however, there was a turnaround in the property relations of the Pernštejn family – mainly due to the unsustainable lifestyle of the family members – and the gradual sale of the estates began. Finally, it came to Pernštejn itself, which was sold in 1596 to Pavel Katharin of Kathar. The family of the Lords of Pernštejn did not survive the sale of their native residence for long – it died out by the sword in 1631. Other families that took turns in owning the castle were the Lichtenstein – Castelcorns (1623 – 1710), the Stockhammers (1710 – 1798), the Schröffel (1798 – 1828) and the Mitrovský of Nemyšl (1828 – 1945). The quality of the castle fortifications was once again shown in 1645, when Pernštejn was unsuccessfully besieged by a Swedish army of 5,800 men. The Swedes did not succeed in causing major damage to the castle, and the traditional damage to the floor of the prismatic tower by artillery, which was to be lowered and romantically modified as a result of this event, and which still co-creates the typical color of the castle, is probably not based on reality. The Pernštejn garrison led by Niklas Fleischinger of Auerspach not only proved high durability, but even managed to harm the Swedes during the siege of Brno. With regard to these events, the castle was included among the provincial fortresses in 1655. However, its importance gradually declined. Fortunately, however, there were no reconstructions that would destroy its authentic medieval character. This danger was especially threatening during the time of the Counts Mitrovský of Nemyšl, when it was supposed to be properly regothicized. In 1945, on the basis of a presidential decree, all the property of the Mitrovský family was confiscated and Pernštejn Castle fell to the state. This extremely important monument is still in his possession today

Loket is a Romanesque castle with an exhibition of the construction development of the castle, a museum of historical porcelain and historical weapons. You can see the torso of the oldest Romanesque rotunda with a four-storey prison, a Romanesque tower with a lookout, a ceremonial hall, and a knight’s hall. Its age is more than 800 years. It was founded in the 2nd half of the 12th century, probably by King Vladislav II. In 1319, the three-year-old King Wenceslas, later Charles IV, was imprisoned here for 2 months, but he did not give up on Loket and included it among the royal towns. In 1434, Emperor Sigismund Loket pawned it to his chancellor Kašpar Šlik. The Šliks ruled here for more than a hundred years and contributed to its reconstruction into a representative residence. At the beginning of the 19th century, the dilapidated castle was rebuilt into a city prison, which was abolished only in 1948. In 1992, the castle was returned to the city and since 1993 it has been open to the public. Opening hours daily:November – March 9.00 – 16.00h April – October 9.00 – 17.00h Admission prices with a guide: adults 80,-Kčdět, students, pensioners,disabled 50,-CZK With text: adults 70,-CZK children,students,pensioners,ZTP 40,-CZK Our castle offer is extended to tours outside visiting hours, organizing weddings, renting representative premises, medieval feasts.

The monumental Bratislava Castle can be seen from a great distance. Its distinctive silhouette can be seen by every visitor to Bratislava. The majesty of the Castle is enhanced by the hill on which it stands. It rises to a height of 85 m above the level of the Danube River.

At the end of the 9th century, it was an important settlement settlement. The first written mention of Bratislava from 907 is related to this period, which mentions the battle between the Bavarians and the old Hungarians under Brezalauspurc Castle. In the 11th and 12th centuries, a pre-Romanesque stone palace was built on the castle hill. The magnificent reconstruction of the castle began in 1423 and resulted in a Gothic castle known as Sigismund Castle. The last stage of major construction modifications to the castle was carried out by Maria Theresa. She gradually had all the fortifications removed from the Pálffy Castle and at the same time highlighted, improved or expanded its residential functions in the most luxurious form. The most interesting building, which was later called the Theresian, was added to the eastern façade of the palace after 1768.

The magnificent Rococo palace of smaller dimensions was the residence of Governor Albert, who came to this important position thanks to his marriage to Archduchess Maria Christina, daughter of Maria Theresa. As art lovers, the two spouses began to collect numerous works of art in the castle, which later became the basis of the now famous Albertina Gallery in Vienna.

In May 1811, a devastating fire broke out in the castle. Nothing happened to the huge ruins of the burnt castle palace for 150 years. It was not until 1968 that the reconstruction of the castle palace was completed.

Grodziec Castle lies on a high basalt hill (389 m above sea level). It was built in the second half of the 15th century by Prince Frederick I of Legnica. After his death, his son Frederick II continued the construction. This created one of the most beautiful castle residences in Silesia. During the Thirty Years’ War, this castle was so damaged that the owners decided to leave it to its fate. Grodziec Castle underwent a major reconstruction only in 1900. The then lord of the castle, Baron Dr. Willibald von Dircksen, commissioned a project for the restoration of the castle to the well-known architect Bodo Ebhardt. Grodziec Castle was then visited by a number of important personalities, including Emperor Wilhelm II. Later, the castle was transferred to the administration of the Silesian Association of History Lovers. It set up a museum, a restaurant and a tourist hostel here. At the end of the war in 1945, Grodziec Castle burned down. After the reconstruction, film companies also became interested in this place. Several films and series were shot at the castle. Swedish and Russian television companies chose Grodziec Castle for their reality shows Riket and Imperium.
Currently, the main castle buildings, bastions and the main gate are open to tourists. The castle moat also attracts attention. Grodziec Castle also hosts the annual knights’ festival.

The largest castle ruin in Bohemia is Rabí Castle. It is one of the buildings with a rich architectural past, as it has undergone a number of reconstructions and expansions. The oldest part of the castle from the period after 1300 is a massive prismatic tower with a narrow fence and an external fence. At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, other residential and farm buildings were built, the castle was fortified by a second bailey. In the last construction phase, an extensive artillery fortification with bastions was built. Although this fortification circuit remained unfinished, it is one of the most advanced defense systems in Central Europe for its time. In 1420, the castle was conquered by Jan Žižka and in 1421 the Hussite hetman lost his second eye during the siege. In the castle hall there is an exhibition of medieval tiles with a replica of a late Gothic tiled stove and archaeological finds from the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries.

 On a rocky outcrop in the mountain valley of the Low Jeseník Mountains, about 13 km south of Rýmařov, there is Sovinec Castle, the largest castle complex in the Bruntál district. The castle was founded before 1348 by members of the Hrutovice family, which was called “the Lords of Sovinec” after the castle from 1348. During the Hussite wars, Sovinec became an important Hussite fortress. During the Pňovský of Sovinec, who acquired the castle with the manor in 1492, the castle was expanded and modified. The Lords of Boskovice, who bought the castle in 1543, rebuilt the castle into a Renaissance residence. Extensive construction activities at the castle continued under Vavřinec Eder of Štiavnica, who owned the castle since 1578, and his son-in-law, the last Czech owner of the castle, Jan the Elder Kobylka of Kobylí (from 1592). Some of the fortification elements of the castle also date from this time – a polygonal cannon bastion, a fortification called the Cat’s Head, a barbican with today’s first gate. After the defeat of White Mountain, the castle was awarded to the Order of the Teutonic Knights in 1623. The occupation of the castle by the Danes in 1626 was an impulse for extensive fortification of the castle – by 1643, three Baroque bastions and other bastions were built, new fortification walls, moats and an advanced tower were built; these fortifications of the castle are the largest preserved fortifications from the period of the Thirty Years’ War in our countries. Despite the massive fortifications, the castle was conquered by the Swedish troops of General Torstenson in the autumn of 1643 and made it one of their fortresses until 1650. The importance of the castle declined in the following years and after the fire of 1784, only the most necessary modifications were made. In the 40s of the 19th century, there was an order seminary and from 1867 a forestry school. During World War II, French prisoners of war were imprisoned in the castle. At present, the castle, which burned down in 1945, is gradually being reconstructed.

Visitors to the castle are open to the 1st-3rd and 7th courtyards and the so-called Upper Castle. The Upper Castle (the oldest part of the castle) with a lookout tower overlooking the beautiful landscape of the Sovinec Nature Park. In the former stables, there are exhibitions about the history of the castle and the forestry school in Sovinec.